Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD), also known simply as Alzheimer's, is a neurodegenerative disease that, in its most common form, is found in people over age 65.

Approximately 24 million people worldwide have dementia of which the majority (~60%) is due to Alzheimer's.

Clinical signs of Alzheimer's disease are characterized by progressive cognitive deterioration, together with declining activities of daily living and by neuropsychiatric symptoms or behavioral changes.

The most striking early symptom is memory loss (amnesia), usually manifest as minor forgetfulness that becomes steadily denser with illness progression, with relative preservation of older memories.

It is the most common type of dementia.

Plaques which contain misfolded peptides called amyloid beta (Aβ) are formed in the brain many years before the clinical signs of Alzheimer's are observed.

Together, these plaques and neurofibrillary tangles form the pathological hallmarks of the disease.

These features can only be discovered at autopsy and help to confirm the clinical diagnosis.

Medications can help reduce the symptoms of the disease, but they cannot change the course of the underlying pathology.

The ultimate cause of Alzheimer's is unknown.

Genetic factors are clearly indicated as evidenced by dominant mutations in three different genes have been identified that account for the small number of cases of familial, early-onset AD.

For the more common form of late onset AD (LOAD), ApoE is the only clearly established susceptibility gene.

All four genes can contain mutations or variants that confer increased risk for AD, but account for only 30% of the genetic picture of AD.

These four genes have in common the fact that mutations in each lead to the excessive accumulation in the brain of Aβ, the main component of the senile plaques that litter the brains of AD patients.

May 26, 2010  Researchers have zeroed in on a protein that may play a role in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The team found that increasing levels of the protein prevented the accumulation of an ... read more

Apr. 23, 2008  According to estimates there are 85,000 Alzheimer patients in Belgium and approximately 20,000 new cases every year. This spectacular increase is due to the increasing aging population. Unfortunately ... read more

July 3, 2014  Anecdotal information on patients with both Alzheimer's disease and cerebrovascular disease have been confirmed by researchers using mouse models in two different studies. The findings, which ... read more

Feb. 28, 2011  Results from a new study contribute to growing evidence that if one of your parents has Alzheimer's disease, the chances of inheriting it from your mother are higher than from your ... read more

Nov. 11, 2004  University of Kentucky chemistry professor Allan Butterfield has uncovered new clues about how brain cells are damaged by Alzheimer's disease, evidence suggesting vitamin E may help prevent the ... read more

July 31, 2015  School is just around the corner, which means backpacks and packed lunches await your children. One expert offers tips for parents to promote healthy dental habits while away from ... read more

July 29, 2015  By blocking the expression of a certain gene in patients, researchers have contributed to the demonstration of great decreases in the concentration of triglycerides in their ... read more

July 29, 2015  Viewing aquarium displays led to noticeable reductions in blood pressure and heart rate, a research team found in the first study of its kind. They also noted that higher numbers of fish helped to ... read more